Mission: In the ever changing digital world, this subcommittee stands at the forefront of the technological revolution.
Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign telecommunications including, but not limited to all telecommunication and information transmission by broadcast, radio, wire, microwave, satellite, or other mode; and, Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing, including cybersecurity. (from Committee Website)
Other Members:
Edward J. Markey (MA), Chairman
Mike Doyle, PA , Vice Chair
Fred Upton, MI, - Jane Harman, CA - - Charles A. Gonzalez, TX - Cliff Stearns, FL
Jay Inslee, WA - Nathan Deal, GA - Baron P. Hill, IN - Barbara Cubin, Wy - Rick Boucher, VA - John Shimkus, IL - Edolphus Towns, NY - Heather Wilson, NM - Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ - Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS - Bart Gordon, TN - Vito Fossella, NY - Bobby L. Rush, IL - George Radanovich, CA - Anna Eshoo, CA - Mary Bono, CA - Bart Stupak, MI - Greg Walden, OR - Eliot L. Engel, NY - Lee Terry, NE - Gene Green, TX - Mike Ferguson, NJ - Lois Capps, CA - Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio) - Hilda L. Solis, CA - John D. Dingell, MI (Ex Officio)
Congressman Cliff Stearns Accomplishments:
As Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee, Stearns held over 30 hearings in the 109th Congress on such issues as energy prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Spyware, identity theft and data security, steroids in sports, counterfeit products, automobile safety, consumer privacy, automobile repair, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (Dubai Port deal). List of hearings held in the 109th Congress.
Identity Theft and Data Security The subcommittee has held a series of hearings on privacy, identity theft, and data security. Stearns authored H.R. 4127, the Data Accountability and Trust Act (DATA Act). The measure protects consumers by requiring notification of security breaches and establishes stronger procedures for protecting consumer information. The full Committee approved H.R. 4127.
Spyware
Stearns' subcommittee took up the issue of Spyware, a program that is secretly loaded onto a victim's computer without their knowledge. Stearns amended H.R. 29, the SPY Act, substituting his language, which was later passed by the House.
Steroids in Sports Held the first hearing on steroids in sports. This led to Stearns offering H.R. 3084, the Drug Free sports Act, which would establish stronger penalties for steroid use and apply Olympic standards for testing. The full committee approved this bill. In response to this bill, MLB adopted the tougher penalties provided for in the bill.
Energy Prices Stearns held a hearing to look at fuel prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Stearns offered an amendment, which was adopted, to Committee legislation giving the FTC the authority, for the first time, to investigate and prosecute instances of price gouging in an emergency. Stearns' provision was expanded and approved by the full House in H.R. 5253.
Foreign Ownership of U.S. Ports After the proposed sale of management of U.S. ports to Dubai; legislation to reform the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) was offered. Stearns' subcommittee considered this bill, H.R. 5337, which was later adopted by the House.
Violent Video Games Stearns' subcommittee looked at the rating and marketing of video games, with a special focus on children accessing games with inappropriate content. The subcommittee learned that ratings are provided to games without anyone playing through the entire game to see the full content. Stearns has offered legislation, H.R. 6113, the Truth in Video Games Act, requiring that an entire game by reviewed for ratings.
Car Title Fraud Stearns examined the fraudulent practice of passing off flood-damaged or salvaged vehicles as ready for the road through cleaning or 'washing' their titles. Stearns authored H.R. 6093, the Damaged Vehicle Information Act, to require the disclosure of vehicle information.
Subcommitees: Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Position: Ranking Republican Member
Member Since: 2000 Link: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Subcommittees/ctcp.shtml Mission: This subcommittee covers a broad rage of issues, from consumer privacy to
investigating unfair trade and marketing practices to looking into steroid
use in sports.
Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; Regulation of commercial practices (the FTC), including sports-related matters; Consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; consumer product safety (the CPSC); product liability; and motor vehicle safety; Regulation of travel, tourism, and time; and, Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing, including cybersecurity. (from Committee Website)
Other Members:
Bobby L. Rush (IL), Chairman Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair
Cliff Stearns, FL, Ranking Member
G. K. Butterfield, NCJ. - Dennis Hastert, IL - John Barrow, GA - Ed Whitfield, KY - Baron P. Hill, IN - Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS - Edward J. Markey, MA - Vito Fossella, NY - George Radanovich, CA - Edolphus Towns, NY - Joseph R. Pitts, PA - Diana DeGette, CO - Mary Bono, CA - Charles A. Gonzalez, TX - Lee Terry, NE - Mike Ross, AR - Sue Myrick, NC - Darlene Hooley, OR - Michael C. Burgess, TX - Anthony D. Weiner, NY - Marsha Blackburn, TN - Jim Matheson, UT - Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio) - Charlie Melancon, LA - John D. Dingell (Ex Officio)
Enviroment and Hazardous Materials Position: Member
Jurisdiction: Environmental protection in general, including the Safe Drinking Water Act and risk assessment matters; Solid waste, hazardous waste and toxic substances, including Superfund and RCRA; Mining, oil, gas, and coal combustion wastes; Noise pollution control; and, Homeland security-related aspects of the foregoing.
Other Members:
Albert R. Wynn (MD), Chairman
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ - John Shimkus, IL, Ranking Member
Bart Stupak, MI - Cliff Stearns, FL - Lois Capps, CA - Nathan Deal, GA - Tom Allen, ME - Heather Wilson, NM - Hilda L. Solis, CA, Vice Chair - John B. Shadegg, AZ - Tammy Baldwin, WI - Vito Fossella, NY - G. K. Butterfield, NC - George Radanovich, CA - John Barrow, GA - Joseph R. Pitts, PA - Baron P. Hill, IN - Lee Terry, NE - Diana DeGette, CO - Mike Rogers, MI - Anthony D. Weiner, NY - John Sullivan, OK - Henry A. Waxma, CA - Tim Murphy, PA - Gene Green, TX - Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio) - Jan Schakowsky, IL - John D. Dingell (Ex Officio)
Committee on Veterans' Affairs Position: Deputy Ranking Republican Member
Mission: The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs reviews veterans' programs, examines current laws, and reports bills and amendments to strengthen existing laws concerning veterans and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), such as for health care, disability compensation, GI bill education and job training, home loan guarantees, life insurance policies, and a nationwide system of veterans' cemeteries.
Other Featured Members: Bob Filner, CA, Chairman - Corrine Brown, FL - Steve Buyer, IN, Ranking Member
Vic Snyder, AR - Cliff Stearns, FL - Michael Michaud, ME - Dan Burton, IN - Stephanie Herseth, SD - Jerry Moran, KS - Harry E. Mitchell, AZ - Richard Baker, LA - John J. Hall, NY - Henry Brown, SC - Phil Hare, IL - Jeff Miller, FL - Michael F. Doyle, PA - John Boozman, AR - Shelley Berkley, NV - Ginny Brown-Waite, FL - John T. Salazar, CO - Michael R. Turner, OH - Ciro Rodriguez, TX - Brian Bilbray, CA - Joe Donnelly, IN - Doug Lamborn, CO - Jerry McNerney, CA - Gus M. Bilirakis, FL - Zachary T. Space, OH - Timothy J. Walz, MN
Subcommittee on Health
The Subcommittee on Health has legislative and oversight jurisdiction for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system, programs and research apparatus. Over the past decade, VA has transformed the health care system to include over 600 health care facilities, including medical centers, nursing homes and hundreds of community-based outpatient clinics organized into service networks throughout the nation, now caring for an estimated 5.2 million veterans.
Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations
The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations reviews the benefits and the health care services that the federal government provides to eligible veterans and family members. It also oversees the programs and operations of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as those of other federal agencies that pertain to veterans. In carrying out its responsibilities, the subcommittee conducts hearings, site visits and investigations nationwide. It also requests reports from the General Accounting Office, the Congressional Research Service and the VA's Office of the Inspector General.
